After revealing recently that Avenged Sevenfold were about six songs into a writing their upcoming album. M. Shadows has now given a big hint as to what direction the band will be taking on the disc. He also has laid out a timetable for the album's release.

He explains to Metal Hammer that the new disc will not sound very much like 'Carry On,' the band's recent release for the video game 'Call of Duty: Black Ops II.' "The new album has a lot more of a [Black] Sabbath / [Led] Zeppelin feel to it than 'Carry On'," says Shadows. "There’s definitely more Sabbath in what we’re writing, and we’re proud of 'Carry On,' but this album is going to be on a whole new level."

As to when the new album will be released, Shadows revealed, "We’re halfway through [writing the new album]. We’re shooting for late January-early February [to head into the studio] and to have the album out in the Summer. I’m pretty sure, with what I’ve been told already, we’re looking to go overseas first, so you guys will be seeing it before everyone else!”

As for the band appearing as characters in the closing credits of the 'Call of Duty: Black Ops II' video game, Shadows remarks, “It’s a trip! It’s crazy! We had to do all this motion-capture and play a gig to nobody, but we didn’t get to see anything until the game came out. You saw it when I saw it!”